Indurating composition for concrete



-xummel UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDURATIN G COMPOSITION FOR CONCRETE Edward W. Scripture, Jr., Shaker Heights, Ohio No Drawing. Original application February 4,

1936, Serial No. 62,297. Divided and this application February 5, 1937, Serial No. 124,272.

106. CUMPUSIHUNS,

COATING R PLASTIC.

7 6 "7 Patented May 25, 1937 waterproofing qualities of concrete, and which Effective dispersion of fine materials in con- 5 will also improve the workability. crete mixes may be obtained by the addition of This application is a division of my copending small quantities of waste sulphite liquor, and application, Serial No. 62,297, filed February 4, such liquor or dried residue thereof may be added 1936- to concrete mixes in sufficient proportions to very 10 It is well known that the properties of concrete materially increase the workability of the mix 10 are influenced by the amount of water employed and to substantially reduce the amount of water in the mix. A certain quantity of water is rerequired, without deleterious efiEects on the conquired in order that the cement, sand, gravel, or crete. For example, I have found that the addi- 5 other ingredients of the mix, can be properly tion of 0.15% (based on the weight of the cement) mixed together, so that the material will flow of dried waste sulphite li uor will reduce the l5 readily and can be worked satisfactorily, but it qimfimiven consistency has been found that the water content of the mix in a 1:3 standard mortar by about 10% to 12%, should be kept as low as possible, as the strength and will, at the same time, increase the strength 1 and density of the finished concrete is reduced of the hardened mortar, as is shown by the folby an increase in the water content. lowing results of experiments: 20 l An object of this invention is to provide means i by which a concrete mix having a given degree Standard sand mortar l of fluidity Which contains a sub- I stantially smaller proportion of water than has 28 ithout I heretofore been required to produce concrete liquor addmw 25 mixes of the same fluidity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an wage, 1100 cement in 440 500 1 improved concrete which can be worked easily compflssive smngthinlbs- 1P6r 1814 1654 and readily, which shrinks ut little in harden- 3d:::::::::::::::::::::::::::3:33;: 2958 2513 I ing, and which, when hardened, is very dense m 4770 4134 30 F and impermeable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Larger quantities of the waste liquor will still plastieizing mixture or composition which can further decrease the amount of water required to be added to a batch of concrete or the like as it make a workable mortar, but quantities of waste is being mixed, or to one of the ingredients before liquor very much in excess of 0.15% of dried resithe material is mixed, and which, when so added, due on the weight of the cement tend to retard will greatly increas e fluidity 0f e mix Withthe set of the cement and to decrease the rate out impairing the Strength of the cohcleteof development of the strength of the concrete or Other 013190 and features the invfamflon mortar, so that strengths at 3 and 7 days may be Wm be appafrfmt from, the descnptmn' materially reduced, and even the strength at 28 40 fif gi gg g ig ggf gs 5; 2233 523? days may be materially decreased. This effect is tity of a waste sul hite li uor derived from the ig t i by the results of expenments as fol manufacture of paper pap from woo This waste sulphite liquor may be in the dilute form, Standard sand mortar 45 as separated from the paper pulp, or may be more or less concentrated by evaporating or driving off gg gg gfiiig g part of the water, with or without neutralization quorq per Without of the acid, or may be completely dried to a fine sack cement addition powder. 1 2 4 50 A considerable number of chemical substances have been found effective for dispersing various finely divided solid materials in water. However, gfg fg gfi 450 435 400 500 a dispersing agent efiective for dispersing mate- Compressive strength-lbs, per rials in one mixture may be relatively ineffective 2 -9 m4 923 0 1369 55 in another mixture. In the case of concrete 7 days 2386 2068 0 m7 mixes, a considerable number of substances which 28 days 2386 159 3565 have been identified as dispersing agents for certain materials have been added to concrete mixes. It Will be Seen that with an addition of 2 1 quarts the strength is materially impaired, with so In Canada November 2, 1936 7 Claims. This invention relates to the hardening and waterproofing of concrete or mortar, and has for its object to provide an indurating composition which will increase the strength, hardness and Many of these substances, when present in a concrete mix, do not have sufilcient dispersing action to affect appreciably the fluidity of the mix, and others have distinctly deleterious effects on the concrete.

4 quarts the strengths at three and seven days are completely destroyed, and at twenty-eight days the strength is very low. But with increasing proportions of waste liquor the amount of 5 water required for a workable mortar is steadily diminished, being a reduction of with 1 quart, 14% with 2 quarts, and 20% with 4 quarts.

I have found that by mixing with or adding to the waste sulphite liquor, in whatever form employed, a reagent which accelerates the set and promotes the rapid development of strength in concrete and mortar, the difliculty involved in the use of large quantities of waste sulphite liquor may be overcome. By adding suflicient ac- 15 celerating agent to compensate for the retardation produced by the use of more than 0.15% of waste sulphite liquor residue, or its equivalent, the advantage of decreased reduction in water may be secured without the attendant decrease in compressive strength which would otherwise suitabl for the"pui pos' ofthefi'seiit'"invention.

Among such electrolytes are the chlorides of ga lgum, aluminum, iron and ammonium, a a 1 metal si li'cat'esj'hydroxides and aluminates. This" 'ismiistrdtdby 'tne'romwmg example? The example above given shows results obtained by the use of 0.5% sodium silicate and the use of 0.5% potassium silicate with 0.3% dried waste sulphite liquor. The percentages given .are by weight and based on the weight of the cement in the mix.

In my copending applications, Serial Nos. 59,603, filed January 17, 1936, and 751,747, filed November 6, 1934, the use of waste sulphite liquor as a cement dispersing agent in a concrete mix is disclosed. With waste sulphite liquor added to the usual ingredients of a concrete mix it is possible to reduce the water required for a workable mortar by about 8% to 12%, with equal or somewhat greater compressive strength than the mortar without the addition, but with further additions of these compositions, which permit greater reductions in water, the compressive strengths are impaired. With the compositions of the present invention it is possible to efiect reductions in water as high as or higher than 22% without impairing compressive strength. That is, the composition of the present invention permits a 100% increase in water reduction while maintaining strength.

It is, of course, possible to further increase the rate of development of strength by the use of a larger proportion of accelerating agent.

While it is to be understood that there may be considerable variations in the proportions desirable for different mixes and for difierent pursilicate or ilicates combined therewith 5 id 5 from about 5.25% to 2.5%, depending on the nature of the accelerating agent and on the proportion of waste sulphite liquor used. With larger proportions of waste liquor greater quantitles of accelerating agent should be used.

Sodium and otassium silicates may be used in the undiluie commercial grades, which have a concentration of about Baum, and it is to be understood that either sodium or potassium silicate may be used, or a mixture of them.

The mix is prepared in the usual manner, except for the addition of the waste sulphite liquor and the accelerating agent. The completed mix, because of the presence of the plasticizing agent is much more fluid and flows more readily than a similar mix prepared with the same quantity of water, but without the plasticizing agent. Because of the greater fluidity the mix is more readily workable, is of increased density, and is more cohesive, thereby preventing segregation of aggregates in the mix.

Because of the increase in the fluidity of the mix, which is produced by the plasticizing agent provided by my invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of water employed in a mix and still produce a mix having a satisfactory degree of fluidity, so as to be workable, and this reduction in the amount of water produces a concrete of increased density and impermeability. The use of the accelerating agent provided by my invention insures an increased strength and greater hardness. This invention also makes possible the use of leaner mixtures, that is, mixtures having relatively smaller amounts of cement than usually employed. This results in a substantial saving and produces a concrete which shrinks less than those produced by the mixes now employed, while the concrete is as strong as or stronger than those prepared without the plasticizing agent and accelerator.

I have found that a further advantage of the combination of waste sulphite liquor with an accelerating agent is that the accelerating agent, for example, alkali metal silicate or silicates, enhances the plasticizing effect of the waste sulphite liquor. For example, the water required for 1100 g. of cement in a 1:3 standard sand mortar for a workable consistency is ordinarily 500 c. 0. With the addition of waste sulphite liquor and alkali metal silicate or silicates the following amounts of water give mixes of equal workability:

It is well known that in concrete made from locally available materials there is frequently a deficiency of fines in the sand so that the most desirable granulometric composition is not secured. Even with sand, which is not deficient in fines, it is often advantageous to add to concrete a small proportion of a non-hydraulic flne material, finer than the usual cement, as this I06. COMPOSITIONS,

COATING OR PLASTIC.

promotes greater density and watertightness by filling and making smaller the capillaries which form in concrete. The addition of a fine pozzuolanic material has the advantages set forth above and, in addition, combines with and fixes the free lime either originally present in the cement or formed by hydrolysis of the silicate compounds of the cement, rendering this lime less soluble, hence less subject to corrosive attack. A disadvantage, however, which has hitherto accompanied such an addition of fines, either inert or pozzuolanic, is that, to secure the same slump, flow or mobility of the concrete it has been necessary to add more water with the fines than would be required in a similar concrete mix without the fines. This has the disadvantage of decreasing the density, watertightness, and strength, and of increasing volume change.

By combining with this fine material a dispersing agent and an accelerating agent, the disadvantage involved in the use of more water in the concrete mix with the fine material is avoided, and the quantity of water required in the mix may be even less than that required in ordinary mixes without the fines. Furthermore, the emciency of the fine material is enhanced, since its effect depends upon its fineness and its uniform mixing with the concrete, and both of these are improved by the presence of a dispersing agent and an acgelerator.

Eifecmon of such fine materials in concrete may be obtained by the addition of substantial amounts of waste sulphite liquor or the dried residue from waste sulphite liquor, together with a suitable proportion of an accelerating agent, as described above, to compensate for the retardation of hydration of the cement, such as is caused by the use of any considerable proportion of waste sulphite liquor. Furthermore. such a composition of fine materials, waste sulphite liquor and accelerating agent may be added to concrete mixes in very substantial proportions, suflicient to very materially increase the workability of the mix and substantially reduce the amount of water required, without deleterious effects on the concrete. The increase in fluidity makes it possible to add substantial amounts of inert or pozzuolanic, finely divided, non-h draulic ma eria Wl a reduction in water content of the mix. The dispersing agent, the accelerating agent, and the fine material may be prepared as a powder mixture to be added in suitable quantities to the ingredients of the concrete mix or as a suspension of the finely divided solids in a solution of the dispersing agent and the accelerating agent.

The composition of the present invention is formed by grinding together to a finely divided state the dried residue of waste sulphite liquor or the more or less concentrated liquor, an accelerating agent, and an inert solid, finely divided, such as precigitatgrdust, fly ash, talc or the like, or a finely divided non-h draulic pozzuolanic material such as bauxiE residue, trass, 23ml e, diatomaceous eart etc.

The term ert as used herein refers to finely divided, solid materials which will not combine with lime to any appreciable extent,

By "pozzuolanic material is meant a substance which will take up lime from solution, either by chemical combination or adsorption, to form a relatively insoluble combination which has some cementitious value.

By finely divided solids" is meant any solid substantially insoluble in water, of which all or substantially all will pass a mesh screen.

By non-hydraulic" is meant a material which does not react with water alone to form cementitious compounds.

One example of a composition embodying the invention is a mixture obtained by grinding together dried sulphite liquor residue, precipitator dust and the alkali metal silicate or silicates in the proportions of two pounds of dried waste sulphite liquor, seven pounds of the alkali metal silicate or silicates, and fourteen pounds of precipitator dust.

A second example is the mixture obtained by grinding together dried waste sulphite liquor, alkali metal silicate or silicates and bauxite residue in the proportions of two pounds 0 waste sulphite liquor residue, seven pounds of alkali metal silicate or silicates, and fourteen pounds of bauxite residue.

examine 20 For standard concrete and mortar mixes, the

compositions prepared as above described may be added to the cement or to the concrete mix substantially in the proportion of three pounds of the powder composition per sack (94 lbs.) of cement.

It is to be understood that the proportion of the fines to the waste sulphite liquor and to the accelerating agent may be varied as desired, and that a mixture of inert andpozzuolanic materials may be employed, the proportions above given being convenient for practical use.

It will be obvious that other materials may be added to the concrete at the same time, as, for example, colors, stearate water roofings, etc. These may be added separateIy t o the concrete mix at the time of mixing or might be added to the composition of the present invention prior to the mixing of the concrete. It will also be obvious that the composition of the present invention may be added to the concrete when it is being mixed, or to the water to be used in the mix, or to each sack of cement before the mix is made, or to the cement when it isground, or, in fact, to any part of the concrete mix prior to completion of the mixing. It will also be obvious that the usual addition of calcium sulphate as a retarder in cement may be omitted and replaced by the composition of the present invention with a somewhat reduced proportion of accelerating agent.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a plasticizing agent which can readily be added to concrete mixes, and which substantially increases the fluidity and workability of the mix over that of a similar mix prepared without this agent, and even over that of mixes prepared with the compositions of my copending applications, Serial Nos. 751,747 and 59,603.

It will be seen, also, that because of the increased workability produced by the composition of the present invention the quantity of water employed in the mix can be very substantially reduced, even if a considerable proportion of fines is added to the mix, thereby providing a superior concrete, while additional aggregates may be added to the mix without it becoming necessary to increase the water content of the mix, as has heretofore been required. The composition of the present invention is inexpensive and very effective in concrete mixes for the purposes described, 7

dure set forth, are presented for purposes of ex- 7 planation and illustration, and that various equivalents can be used and modifications of said procedure can be made without departing from my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An indurating composition for concrete or mortar, comprising waste sulphite liquor and alkali metal silicate.

2. An indurating composition for concrete or mortar, comprising waste sulphite liquor in an amount equivalent to 0.15% to 0.5% of dry waste sulphite liquor residue by weight of the cement and alkali metal silicate or silicates in the amount of 25% to 2.5% by weight of the cement.

3. An indurating composition for concreteor mortar, comprising waste sulphite liquor, alkali metal silicate, and a finely divided non-hydraulic filling material.

4. An indurating composition for concrete or mortar, comprising waste sulphite liquor, alkali metal silicate, and a finely divided pozzuolanic material.

5. An indurating composition for concrete or mortar, comprising waste sulphite liquor in an amount equivalent to 0.15% to 0.5% of dry waste sulphite liquor residue by weight of the cement and alkali metal silicate or silicates in the amount of .25% to 2.5% by weight of the cement, and a finely divided pozzuolanic material.

6. The method of increasing the workability of a concrete mix containing water in a given ratio, which comprises incorporating in the mix the solids in waste sulphite liquor equivalent to .15% to 5% of dry waste sulphite liquor residue by weight of the cement and 25% to 2.5% of alkali metal silicate by weight of the cement.

7. The method of increasing the workability of a concrete mix containing water in a given ratio, which comprises incorporating in the mix the solids in waste sulphite liquor and one or more alkali metal silicates.

EDWARD W. SCRIPTURE, JR. 

